Kingdom Of Fife - any good rides ?

[toroddf]

Hi.

I have never been to this kingdom before on a bike. OK, I have taken the bus and the train over this flat part of Scotland. But that is all.

Edit after checking the train fares (I am not paying that much to Dundee !!......): I am considering taking the train from Paisley to Alloa and then pedal around the kingdom over two days. Probably with return over Alloa and then Milngavie/Fintry to avoid both Edinburgh and Glasgow. I know the Campsies very well as they are my playground.

I want of course to include St Andrews and then do the full coastal road past Crail, Elie, Kirkcaldy and Rosyth to Alloa. I am OK/very happy with 75-100 miles a day on my racing bike.

How is the road, the traffic and how is it to bypass the traffic machines at the bridge heads in the Inverkeiting area ? Is a bikeride in this kingdom any interesting at all, keeping in mind that I love the west coast hills, roads and bikerides ?

Any views on bikeriding in this kingdom ?

 

[snorri]

How is the road, the traffic and how is it to bypass the traffic machines at the bridge heads in the Inverkeiting area ? Is a bikeride in this kingdom any interesting at all, keeping in mind that I love the west coast hills, roads and bikerides ?
Any views on bikeriding in this kingdom ?

It depends on what you find interesting!
Fife is fine for a look around, lots of signposted routes for cyclists, Google 'cycling in Fife'. The LA has probably done more than any other LA in Scotland to promote leisure cycling.
Inverkeithing has never caused me any concerns, well not since they banned smoking in the cafes there.

 

[ACS]

You have a PM.

 

[HLaB]

Hi.

I have never been to this kingdom before on a bike. OK, I have taken the bus and the train over this flat part of Scotland. But that is all.

Edit after checking the train fares (I am not paying that much to Dundee !!......): I am considering taking the train from Paisley to Alloa and then pedal around the kingdom over two days. Probably with return over Alloa and then Milngavie/Fintry to avoid both Edinburgh and Glasgow. I know the Campsies very well as they are my playground.

I want of course to include St Andrews and then do the full coastal road past Crail, Elie, Kirkcaldy and Rosyth to Alloa. I am OK/very happy with 75-100 miles a day on my racing bike.

How is the road, the traffic and how is it to bypass the traffic machines at the bridge heads in the Inverkeiting area ? Is a bikeride in this kingdom any interesting at all, keeping in mind that I love the west coast hills, roads and bikerides ?

Any views on bikeriding in this kingdom ?

Biking in the Kingdom is great, although I wouldn't describe it as flat, although if you stick to the coast it is generally flatter but tends to be busier with traffic between Kirkcaldy and Inverkeithing. The Crail Elie Road, generally isn't that bad however, despite being a Main Road (although you get the occasional petrol heads for the Car racing or whatever it is at Crail). Things get a tad busier as you approach Kirkcaldy but it still isn't bad. If you don't mind hills I'd cut in land my self to Dunfermline and then you have no problem with the bridge or traffic bypass the whole Inverkeithing/ Rosyth area. There good quiet roads and a well surfaced 23km long cycle path (an old railway path, flat) all the way from Dunfermline to Clackmannan and Alloa is about a mile from the village. My Preference after just East of Kirkcaldy at the last roundabout to turn right up the hill and take the left just after the railway bridge, the road it leads here has a quite steep start than then a long but shallow climb but the road is 90-95% traffic free. Then turn right at the end of this road and cut to Crossgates and turn left then right eventually to enter Dunfermline by a quiet road (The Club usually go straight from Crossgates to Dunfermline, Halbeath by the busier A92 far shorter but busier). I'd then either climb up to the B914 (relatively quiet road but initial climbing to get there) which goes straight to Saline and branch off to Forestmill, Clackmannan and Alloa. Avoid climbing and by taking the railpath by the back of East End Park, the little on road bit and then the William Street railway path all the way to Clackmannan. Or go through Dunfermline and Pittencrieff park to Crossford before returning to the coast (after the Park, the Glen to Locals) its downhill or Flat all the way to a short sharp hill at Clackmannan.
Something along these lines:
via Saline B914,
via Railway Path,
Returning to the coast.

 

[toroddf]

Thanx for the advices. I am just trying to get an idea if I should use tent or bunkhouse/youth hostel. On the A917, is there any youth hostels/bunkhouses between St Andrews and Buckhaven ? Any good wild camping or campsites in this area too ?

Thanx in advance and I hope others than me also can use the informations in this thread.

 

[ACS]

St Andrews YHA, Buchanan Gardens, St Andrews (Jul & Aug)

http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_location.php?supplier_id=1561

Think they use the Uni accomodation during the summer break. 10 mins walk to the centre of town

 

[HLaB]

Thanx for the advices. I am just trying to get an idea if I should use tent or bunkhouse/youth hostel. On the A917, is there any youth hostels/bunkhouses between St Andrews and Buckhaven ? Any good wild camping or campsites in this area too ?

Thanx in advance and I hope others than me also can use the informations in this thread.

According to the OS there's a camp site at Crail, St Monans and Shell Bay (near Elie) and a few other caravan sites along the A917, I've no idea the status of them though, as to Hostels I could be wrong but I think they'd all be in St Andrews and they'd have to be booked well in advance. Sorry I'm no real help on accommodation but its a bit too close to home.

 

[compo]

The White Swan at Methil, Leven. By heck, I could tell you some tales about that place. Bed and breakfast with some of the ladies in there was cheaper than a youth hostel, and with benefits thrown in.